Azure Striker Gunvolt 2 is Out Today!

Back in 2014, a little 3DS title called Azure Striker Gunvolt was released and, despite being download-only, became an almost-instant success, selling over 160,000 units worldwide and receiving critical acclaim across the board. Naturally, developer Inti Creates have been working on a sequel, which was released in Japan last month but is now available to download today.

Shortly after the events of the previous game, main character Gunvolt finds himself forced into action once more when a new threat called Eden, an organisation comprised of powerful 'adepts' (people with superhuman powers), appears. Gunvolt must team up with his old rival Copen to fight and thwart the machinations of this new group.

Gameplay will handle exactly as the previous game. Gunvolt must jump and dash through levels whilst shooting down any enemies that cross him, in a similar style to the Mega Man Zero series (also developed by Inti Creates). What makes Gunvolt unique is his special bullets that can "tag" enemies, which grant homing properties to his electric fields.

The game will also allow players to take control of the aforementioned Copen, who features a different control scheme that involves using a dash attack to lock onto enemies. He also posses the ability to use powers from defeated bosses (again, similar to Mega Man).

It's available to download from the 3DS eShop in both North America and Europe but a physical release is also available; the latter is part of the Azure Striker Gunvolt: Striker Pack, which will come with the first game as well. However, it won't be released until October 4th.

There's currently no word on whether the physical release will be released in Europe.